Canadians in the Great War; Fighting Spirit, Military Identity, and an Emerging Nation

During World War I (WWI), the battles that occurred in 1917 fundamentally changed the Canadians and presented a paradox in which a once-loyal dominion emerged with a strong sense of national identity. In three critical battles, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, and Passchendaele, nationalism was fostered among the Canadian fighting forces. Canadian conscription efforts also demonstrated changing sentiments towards the empire and the war, with 484,983 Canadians voluntarily enlisting and 620,000 Canadians serving by the end of WWI. Canadian wartime policies and recruitment efforts resulted in a diverse fighting force, including French, Irish, Highlanders, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and Black Canadians. These battles brought together the various ethnic groups within Canada and resulted in a unique mentality of resilience and a shared sentiment of Canadian exceptionalism forming. This exceptionalism was also globally acknowledged through the emergence of a distinct reputation. Canadians were recognized as elite "shock troops" of the British Empire and commanded both fear and respect from their allies and enemies. Following the war, the Canadian reputation emboldened negotiations with Britain, beginning with the Treaty of Versailles and resulting in the Statute of Westminster. Canadian politicians also continued to invoke collective memory to tie Canadians to a shared, newly forged identity, which further fueled nationalist sentiments. Although the overt willingness to engage with the painful memories of WWI is contested, the distinction earned by Canadians would forever be marked by memorials to the soldiers who fought there. This new identity forged on the battlefield was imbued with Canadian pride. In turn, the diplomatic resolve of the Canadians was strengthened while separating from the British Empire. Ultimately, this thesis posits that it was not a "myth" or "legend" that emerged from these battles; rather, the experience of Canadian soldiers laid the groundwork for the post-war shift towards greater autonomy, reinforced by their war experience.

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.